Method of manufacturing fabric tubing



Oct. 28, 1941. A. E. ALBIN METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FABRIC TUBING Filed Jan. 11, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 28, 1941. A. E. ALBIN 2,260,816

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FABRIC TUBING Filed Jan. 11, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 4.

Oct. 28, 1941.

A.El FH BIN METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FABRIC TUBING Filed Jan. 11, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 28, 1941. ALBIN I 2 ,260,816

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FABRIC TUBING Filed Jan. 11, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG] Oct. 28, 1941. A.,E.A| B|N v 2,260,816

METHOb OF MANUFACTURING FABRIC TUBING Y 7 Filed Jan. 11, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 5 F|G.8. 7 K

Oct. 28, 1941. A. E. ALBIN 2,260,315

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FABRIC TUBING Filed Jan. 11, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 8/ FIG] I.

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Oct. 28, 1941.

8 Sheets-Sheet 7 I I 1 167 l I I l I i l a 1 i 145 i //\l 1 l I A. EL ALBIN METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FABRIC' TUBING Filed Jan. 11, 1940 8 Shets-Sheet 8 degree of accuracy.

part obvious and-in part pointed out hereinafter.

shown in Fig.

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE Alonzo E. Albin, Freeport, N. Y., assignor to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 11, 1940, Serial No. 313,337

2 Claims. (Cl. 112-63) Among --t-he several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of means for economically manufacturing in quantity fabric tubing of the class made by bias-seaming opposite edges of a straight fabric strip; and the provision of a method and apparatus of the class described in which the tubing is made with a high Other objects will be in The invention accordingly comprises the steps and sequence of steps, elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of' parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a finished but flat length of helically seamed tubingwhich is the product of the present method and apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating a hand method of effecting certain index registry markings;

Fig. 3 shows an end-cutting step performed upon the fabric strip of Fig. 2, preparatory to 10 helical seaming; I

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the beginning of a seaming operation;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing said seaming operation proceeding with consequent twist and forming a collapsed fabric tubing;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a winding machine for untwisting and winding the twisted product Fig. 7 is a front elevation of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of Fig. 6 taken from the right;

Fig. 9 is a vertical, detail section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6;'

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

It is known that packages may be made by helically seaming the opposite edges of a plain woven fabric strip. But, two difficulties present themselves in accomplishing this end:

First, the tubing which results from the uncontrolled heiical seaming of a plain woven strip tends to have unequal diameters throughout its length and other undesirable bulges caused by the fact that the seaming operation heretofore used cannot readily be carried out so as to juxtapose at the helical seam equal edge lengths of fabric.

Second, the helical seaming, when done by a stationary sewing machine (the most economical type of sewing machine to use), requires the application of a twist to the fabric as it is seamed and as the seamed fabric issues from the sewing machine it retains the twist, since it is moved longitudinally without substantial rotation against the twist. Such a twist makes the fabric unfit for subsequent operations until the twist is eliminated. To manually eliminate twist in one step, and then to roll up the tubing, has been found to be uneconomical.

The present invention obtains accurate registry of equal lengths of fabric edges at the seam so as to obtain an accurate diameter of finished tubing, and also provides a continuous system is stored ready for use in compact rolls.

Fig. 10 is a vertical, detail section taken on Fig. 14 is an electrical Wiringdiagram of certain control circuits; and Fig. 15 is a plan view of the marked product of 'theapparatus shown in Figs. 11-14.

Referring now more particularly to Fig, 1, there is shown at T the tubular material which is the product of the present method and apparatus. This comprises ordinary woven fabric I (Fig. 2) of loose or tight weave, depending upon the application to which the final tubular material T is to be put. This material is to be helically seamed as indicated at 3 in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the tubing is shown flat in Fig. 1, and that its true diameter is less when filled than the width indicated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 the material I is indicated in its condition as raw' material for the present process.- This fabric l is drawn from a raw-material supply roll 5. It is drawn out over a marking table 1 for certain hand marking to be described.

Marking or indexing operations herein de- 5 scribed may be carried out either by hand or by posed edges form a point P at the right for seam- 2 aseo,

machine. In the former case acertain freedom of marking arrangement is permissible, as will be described; whereas in the case of machine marking certain inherent limitations require special marking arrangements, which will hereinafter be specified.

Referring again to the hand marking operations of Fig. 2, it will be seen that the marking table I is provided on each side, at suitable intervals, with marks B (on the left) and A (on the right). Thus, when the cloth I is drawn from the roll 3 upon the table 1, corresponding index marks B-l, B-2, etc., are placed on the fabric. opposite marks B; and marks A'|, A-2, etc., are placed opposite marks The first effective mark A-l in the "A series is placed opposite the second effective mark B 2 in the B series.

-This staggers the A! mark with respect to the B-l mark. As will appear in the machinemarking altemative of the invention, the series of marks 3-2, 3-3, etc., may be in addition staggered with respect to the marks A-i, A-2, etc.; but in the hand-applying scheme there is no advantage to such second staggering.

From the above it will be seen that the table 1 functions as a scale for laying down predeterminately spaced or staggered series of marks 3-! and A-l.

The next step after that shown in Fig. 2 may consist in again storing the cloth I as by folding it into piles, or by re-rolling it. Thereafter, or directly after the operation shown in Fig. 2, the following operations are carried out.

The cloth I is severed on a bias between corresponding points on successive sta ered marks B-l and A-l on opposite edges. This produces a scarfed edge and thereafter the acute angle of the scarf is brought toward its obtuse angle and the first mark Bl (on the left-hand side) is brought into substantial registry with the first mark A-l (on the right-hand side), as indicated in Fig. 4. The main length of the strip l is at the same time pushed aside to place the upper edge lateral as in Fig. 4, so that the juxtaing under the head of a stationary sewing machine. Seaming is started at the juxtaposed r68- istry marks 18-! and A-l, and thereafter continued along the joined edges of the cloth, successive marks 3-2, 3-3, etc., being registered respectively with staggered marks A-2, A-3, etc. -Without the useof registry or index marks B-l, A-l, etc.,ithas been found that an operator variably stretches or crinkles one side or the other of the cloth, and thus varies the helical '55 angle of the seam; and, if the seam is not sewn at a constant helical angle, the result is a tube I of varying diameter, instead of a tube of constant diameter, such as shown in Fig. 1. It is the purpose of the succeeding registry marks Bl, A-l, a0

etc., to provide means for the operator to obtain an accurate registry between successive points down the edges which make up the seam, so that equal lengths of cloth are adjacently sewn and the helix angle thus maintained constant and thus also the diameter of the resulting tube. .Thus, the operator in making the helical seam brings into registry successive preceding marks B-i, etc. with successive marks A-l, etc., the marks A-l, etc., lying staggered longitudinally'70 behind B-l, etc., respectively, by an amount calculated to produce preferably a 45 helix (and a corresponding predetermined tube diameter) from width of material being used. It is to be understood that other than a 45 helix angle may be adopted, but that 45 is preferable because of the resulting axial symmetry between warp and woof threads.

In Fig. 5 is indicated a twisted condition that occurs when a strip of woven material is helically seamed on a stationary sewing machine. Due to the inability of the operator to untwist with facility the helically seamed tubing which proceeds from the sewing machine, this tubing is allowed to proceed from the sewing machine initially without substantial axial rotation. Thus the cloth assumes a rumpled and twisted condition, such as indicated in Fig. 5. In this figure the sewing machine needle is shown at numeral 3, and at H is indicated how twist is placed in the cloth in order to bring it into sewing position under the needle 3. At the region l3 the operator no longer has control of the relatively limp goods, which then is caused to proceed axially without rotation and which thus remains twisted.

It is the purpose of the apparatus next to be described to roll up the helically seamed tubing and while doing this to take out the twist acquired during sewing. This apparatus is shown in Figs. 6-10 and consists in a frame l5 upon which is supported a skeleton platform H. Depending from this platform I I is a support I! for a rotary carriage 2 I. The carriage 2| carries a pulley 23 (Fig. 10) whichis driven from a pulley 21 (Fig. 7) by a belt 25. The pulley 21 is driven through a speed reducing box 29 from a shaft 3|. The shaft 3| is driven from a countershaft 35 by a set of V-belts 33. The countershaft 35 is driven from a clutch 39 by a set of V-belts 31. The clutch 39 is driven by a main shaft 4| which in turn is driven from a motor 43 by a set of V-belts 43. The clutch 39 is controlled from a spring-returned lever 2. The lever 2 is. under control of a flexible connector 4 operable from a control lever B. The flexible connector 4 extends over pulleys 8 so that force for the lever B is properly applied. A return spring is shown at Ill.

All pulleys on the counter-shaft 35 are of the resilient side-plate type for V-beits. Thus, when the carriage 41 is moved toward the clutch 39 (Fig. 6), the pulley 53 on the left side automatically adjusts to a larger effective diameter; whereas the pulleys 55 on the right side automatically adjust to a smaller effective diameter. Thus, the velocity ratio between the shaft ll and the shaft 3| is changed by adjustment of the position of carriage 41. Since speed changing apparatus of the class indicated by the carriage and the pulleys 53 and- 55 is known, further details are believed to be unnecessary here. Furthermore, other speed changing apparatus may be used at this point.

Control of the lead screw 5| is effected by means of a set of bevel gears 51 driven from a shaft 33 which, through a chain drive 6|, is under control of a variable speed control wheel 63.

Therotary carriage 2| has downwardly extending arms 33 in which are slots 61 for accommodating the rotary lateral ends of a roll spindle 03, upon which a roll H of tubing is formed. Beneath the roll II is a pair of supporting rollers 13, one of which is live, and the ter-shaft 89 is in an adjustable frame 41 and is driven by means of V-belts 9Ifrom a clutch 03, the latter being driven from the main shaft 4|. The clutch 93 is controlled by means of a lever 95 having'a return spring 91 and a flexible control member 99 which extends over a suitable pulley 90 and is operable from a second control lever IOI.

The control levers WI and each have a clutch-open and a clutch-closed position in a notched slot.

Pulleys I53 and I55 on the counter-shaft are similar to those similarly enumerated and described in connection with the counter-shaft 35, so that adjustment of position of the countershaft 89 results in a change in velocity ratio between the shaft 4| and the shaft 85, the latter controlling the live roller 13. The carriage I41 is under control of a lead screw II. The lead screw I5I is controlled through a set of bevel gears I51 from a control shaft I03. The control shaft I03 is adjusted by a chain drive I05 from a variable speed control wheel I00.

In view of the above it will be seen that from the motor 45 a controllable clutched connection may be had either with the rotary carriage 2I or with the live supporting and winding'roller 13. In the respective connections are also the speed adjusting means so that the speed of rotation of the fabric roll H on its horizontalaxis may be controlled, as well as its speed of rotation about a vertical axis on the winding carriage 2|. The adjustments are independent.

At the bottom of the slotted arms 55 and below the supporting rolls 13 is pivotally supported by means of links I05 a pair of guide bars I01 At the base of the machine is a platform IIO having asuitable central opening III at the base of which is mounted, a guide r'oller II3. Ahead of this is mounted a pair of vertical rollers H5. The rollers H3 and H5 serve as lead-in means for directing the material from a position on the floor into the vertical column II9 of said material. As indicated, the lower portion of the column H9 is twisted, and it is this twist that the present machine eliminates. Operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 6-i0 is as follows:

Cloth from the twisted heap which is supplied from the sewing machine is led in between the rolls H5 and around the roll H3 and guided -up between theguides I01; then past the guide rollers I09 and between the supporting rollers 13, where t is started onto the roller 03. The start is effected by hand. Then the motor 45 is turned on. thus causing the incipiently-formed roll 1| to rotate on an axis normal or at right angles to the tube axis to draw in more material to be rolled up, while the supporting frame 2i rotates about an axis parallel to the tube axis to cancel the twist in the column of material H9.

It is clear that, as the diameter of the roll 1| increases and its angular velocity decreases. the linear velocity\, on its surface is constant since rate of cloth application needs to be changed, except to make adaptations to the requirements of the sewing machine operator. This distinguishes from a drive attached to axle 69 which would maintain angular roll velocity constant with changing linear velocity of cloth, which in turn would require constant relative adjustment of the roll drive. In order to accomplish the proper adjustments, manipulation of the wheel 63 and/or I08 is carried out. Except for these adjustments, which are initially made and incidentally may readily be made for a given operator, the rolling and untwisting operations are automatic. After a roll H has been completed, it may be removed by removing the spindie 59 from the slots 51.- This is done simply by angling the spindle in a vertical plane.

While the hand marking scheme shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is satisfactory, and in some cases advantageous, an automatic marking means is I desirable for increasing output. Such a means means of a chain drive I35. The chain drive I is driven from' a counter-shaft I31 and the:

I latter is driven by a belt I39 from a motor I 4|,

carried on the frame I2I. Arranged in front of the vertical reach I25 'of material is a sub-frame having two lateral vertical standards I43 (Fig.

12) and .a central standard I45. Horizontal supporting-rods I41 are vertically adjustable on the standards I43 and I45. They may be clamped in any adjusted positions. Scales I49, calibrated in terms of cloth width to be run, are placed adjacent the supports I41 so that both of thelatter may be consistently adjusted.

Supported in turn on the supports I41 are laterally slidable paint spray-gun heads or applicators I5I. These may be clamped in any adjusted lateral positions adjacent the respective edges of the strip being run.

These paint spray-gun heads are known types of heads which are supplied from a pressure paint tank I55 with paint over liquid pressure lines I53 (Fig. 13). Air pressure is supplied upon the paint in the tank I55 to force the paint out over lines I53. Air line I51 supplies the tank I55 at, say, 10 pounds per .square inch. This line leads from a suitable supply line I59 operating at 80 pounds per square inch, for example. The air from the line I59 is reduced in pressure in the line I51 bymeans of a reducing valve I6I. It also has; water and other impurities separated therefrom in the separator I53.

it is driven on its surface by'the supporting roll- Air is supplied to the usual spraying means in the spray-gun heads I5I by means of an auxiliary air line I65 which feeds the guns per se through respective lines I51, the latter lines being under control of solenoid valves I59.

The spray heads I5I are of known type wherein, whenever air pressure is applied over an air supply line such as I51, a paint valve in the head is opened, with the. result that atomized paint is projected from the respective nozzle until the air is again out off. The purpose of the tank I55 is simply constantly to supply paint ovier the lines I53 to the paint valves in the heads I5I. I

The .result is that it is possible by intermittently andsimultaneously operating the valves I69 to apply index marks A and B to the adjacent reach I25 of material I. Since it is desired to have the marks at the edges of the material, the spray-gun heads III are located opposite said edges as shown in Fig. 12. The heads are interconnected as shown at IS! in order to assure similar air pressure conditions and thus simultaneous and similar operations.

In order to operate the solenoid valves I89.

'there is provided an electric circuit (Fig. 14)

the roller I21. Thus, the angular velocity of.

the roller I21 and that of the cam I" are proportional. For each revolution of the cam I", the switch I13 closes once, thus energizing the solenoids I68 and causing the paint spray heads to spray paint against the edge of the clPth reach I25. a

At I83 is shown a manual switch for cutting off the marking operation entirely by breaking the electric circuit to the solenoids I88, and at I85 is shown a manual shunt switch for manually timing the energization of the solenoids I" and thus the operation of thepaint spray heads I5l. Such manual operation may sometimes be desirable for special purposes.

In Fig. 15 is shown a typical result obtained from the marking machine of Figs. 11-13. It will be appreciated that both spray-gun heads I5I operate simultaneously and for a given set of gears I19 in a given proportion to the advance of the cloth I. This means that the distance between marks made by a given spray head cannot readily be changed, yet it is desirable to change the distance for the different cloth widths which go to make different diameters of tubing. If the spray heads Isl are located a distance apart approximately equal' to the lateral distance between the marks made. thereby, then there will be produced a preferable helix angle, where marks B-I, A-I; 3-2, 5-2: etc., are joined by the sewing machine operate Referring to Fig. 15, the left-hand marks applied will again be designated as B-I, 3-2, ete.,

and the right-hand marks A-I, A-I, etc. A

40" width of cloth will be assumed. exclusive of selvage, as shown. It will thus be seen that each mark ZB-I, B- -I, etc., which is to be registered with the proper mark A-I, A-2, etc for effecting a 45 helix, must be 40" aheadcf the respective "A" mark. But,'it is not that a "B mark-be oppomte an A mark, but simply-that the alternate marks to be connected shall be displaced from one another 40" along the cloth. Thus, if the distances between marks B-I and 13-1 on the one hand. and A--I and A! on the other hand, is 36", due to the. timing from the cam I'll (say for a most-used cloth width of 36"), then all that is necessary for producing the 45 angle desired on'40" cloth is to offset the series of "B" marks from the series of "A marks a distance of 4" as indicated in Fig. 15, so that the 40" displacement may be obtained between the "B" and A marks which are to be registered. This point is made simply to show that, since there is constancy of the tance (36") between the respective 3" and A marks and that the most desired 45 helix angle is maintained by setting the supports I" apart a distance corresponding to the width of thecloth which is being marked and longitudin ally as determined by the scales I 48.

It follows also that, should it be desired to change helix angles, this could be done simply by properly adjusting the distance between the bars I41 so that the distance between registering marks "B" and A would be proper for the helix angle desired with the given width of cloth being run. Ordinarily, this latter adjustment is not resorted to, because of the preference for the 45 angle. The adjustment markings shown at I49 in Fig. 12 are for approximately a 45 angle. The diagram of Fig. 15 is also for such an approximate angle on 40" cloth.

It will be understood that if it were desired to have the automatic marker operate to place oppositely located marks "B" and "A" as in Fig. 2,

the gear changes could be made at I19 to effect a timing for the operation of the spray guns I5I so that they would space their marks a distance approximately equal to the cloth width, for any width. 1

Referring again to Figs. 11-14, it will be seen that there is an extra spray-gun nozzle shown at numeral I81, fed by lines which have corresponding numerals and functions to those already described. I

As indicated in Fig. 14, the solenoid 20 for operating the valve 22 which controls the spray nozzle I81 is connected into the circuit I'Il ahead of the switch I'll and thus is not under control of said automatic switch I13. It is under control of a timed switch 25, a manually controlled cutout switch 24 being also in the line. The switch 25 is timed and operated by the yardage counter III which responds to passage of goods. Thus, while the spray heads Iii may be operated according to the timing of the cam I", the spray head I" may be timed for indicating yardage, for example at every 250 yards for purpose of determining amounts for the rolls 1 I It is to be understood that the marking materlals used may be any ones desirable. For example, in the hand operation, paint, chalk, crayahead faster than the other as the tube is sewn.

on, and the like, may be used, and any desirable paint in the automatic operation. It may, if desired, be caused to penetrate the fabric.

Likewise, the character of the strip I may be as desired. It may be fabric, paper, and combinations of these, or the like. I

It is also to be understood that the term ap-' plicators refers not only to'paint spray heads herein described, but also to equivalent brushes, printing plates and the like for accomplishing the end of marking.

From the above it is clear that the purpose of the indices is to keep one selvage from travelling The marks should not appear so frequently as to cause confusion as to which marks are intended to correspond. Thus the seams of corresponding marks may be spread as far apart as happens to be convenient in marking and infrequently enough so as to avoid confusion,

. and frequently enough to make impossible much relative creeping of selvage between marks. The dimensional examples given above are -satisfactory in this respect.

There is no necessity that the indices along one selvage be spaced regularly, the only retiming by the cam I", there will be constant di s- 7 quirement for successful operation being that the stagger between corresponding indices on opposite selvages be constant. Thus, whether the indices on one side be spaced regularly or irregularly, the indices on the other side are similarly spaced at a constant stagger.

The terms first, second and third, inreference to indices placed on opposite edges, refer respectively to staggered indices which are ultimately joined according to the respective numbers.

Complying with rule 43 or the Patent Oflice, reference is here made to the following applications of applicant's assignee:

"Gardner et a1. patent application Serial No.

, ing indexing the edgesof the flat strip at intervals staggered according to a fixed distance, seaming together by means of a stationary sewing machine said opposite edges while registering successive indices on opposite edges, whereby 220,670, filed July 22, 1938, for Packaging method and article, wherein a form of the fabric tubing herein referred to-is claimed per se;

Gardner et a1. patent application Serial No. 300,500, flledOctober 21, 1939, for Packaging method, wherein a. method of using the fabric tubing herein is claimed "Ewer et a1. patent application Serial No. 342,098, filed June 24, 1940, for Fabric tubing, wherein a method is claimed of making said fabric tubing inside-out, and wherein such insideout tubing is claimed.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope twist occurs in the resulting non-rotating, collapsed and seamed tubing, moving the lastnamed tubing axially without rotation, and continuously untwisting and rollingup said tubing by rotary motion around an axis at right angles to the tubing and by a simultaneous rotary mo- .tion upon an axis parallel to the tubing.

2. The method of rolling up collapsed twisted flexible tubing comprising initially moving the tubing longitudinally without substantial rotation about the tubing axis, rolling up the tubingon a roll by a rotary motion around an axis at right angles to the tubing axis, and effecting a simultaneous controlled relative motion between the roll and tubing only adJacent to the roll and about an axis parallel to the tubing.

ALONZO ALBIN. 

